Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
If the immortal Gods ever did determine that any person should be assisted by their aid, now do they intend that Calidorus shall be preserved for me, and the procurer destroyed, inasmuch as they produced you for my assistant, so clever and so knowing a fellow. (Looking back.) But where is he? am I not a silly fellow to be thus talking to myself alone? I’ faith, he has put a trick upon myself, as I fancy; myself one knave, I have been poorly on my guard against another knave.
905
PSEUDOLUS
By my troth I’m undone, if this fellow’s off, and I shall not carry into effect this day what I intended. But see, there he is, a statue that deserves a whipping; how stately he does stalk along!
910
How now! By my faith I was looking about for you; I was very greatly afraid that you were off.
SIMO
It was my character to do so, I confess.
PSEUDOLUS
Where were you loitering?
PSEUDOLUS
That I know well enough already.
SIMO
Why then do you ask me what you know?
PSEUDOLUS
Why this I want, to put you in mind.
915
SIMO
Needing to be put in mind yourself, don’t you be putting me in mind.
915
PSEUDOLUS
Really I am treated by you quite with contempt.
SIMO
And why shouldn’t I treat you with contempt, I who have the repute of being a military gentleman?
PSEUDOLUS
I want this then, which has been commenced, to be completed.
SIMO
Do you see me a-doing anything else?
PSEUDOLUS
Therefore walk on briskly.
920
SIMO
No, I choose to go slowly.
920
PSEUDOLUS
This is the opportunity; while this Harpax is asleep, I want you to be the first to accost him.
SIMO
Why are you hurrying? Softly; don’t you fear. I wish Jupiter would so make it, that he were openly in the same place with me, whoever he is, that has arrived from the Captain.
Never a jot, by my troth, should he be a bit the better Harpax than I. Have good courage, I’ll have this business nicely accounted for to you. So by my tricks and lies would I put this military stranger in a fright that he himself would deny that he is the person that he is,
925
and would believe me to be the person that he himself is.
930
